‘Frightening’ spike in people demanding to know what data the council holds about them View Image

Bristol City Council is struggling to keep up with a “frightening” increase in how many people are demanding to know what data is held about them. Staff are being urged to think proactively and become more transparent to stem the tide of hundreds of subject access requests each year.

Partly driven by the deteriorating condition of council homes, the number of people submitting subject access requests has shot up by 800 per cent over the past few years. In 2022–23, only 103 requests were received, compared to 927 last year — with even more expected this year.

Anybody can request that an organisation, which holds information about them, sends them that information. While complying with thes

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